Clarkson laxwomen improve to 5-0; SLU falls

WEST PALM BEACH, FL - Senior Alyssa Cristaldi (North Syracuse, NY) scored a pair of goals to match the all-time mark for the Clarkson University Womens Lacrosse team as the Golden Knights improved to a program-best 5-0 to start the season with an 11-6 victory over Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Thursday evening.

With their fifth victory to start the season, the Golden Knights surpassed the previous mark of four wins to begin a campaign in 2010, and Clarkson will take its winning streak into Liberty League play against Skidmore College on Friday, March 29. CMS fell to 5-6 on the season.

Though CMS scored the games first goal in the opening minute, Clarkson owned the first half by scoring seven of the next eight goals. The Knights were efficient on offense, scoring their seven goals on just 10 total shots. CMS scored the first goal of the second half as well, but once again Clarkson pushed forward on offense with three straight goals to put an end to any hopes of a CMS comeback.

Freshman Christine Wright (Watertown, NY) led the team offensively, scoring four goals and adding an assist in the game, while senior Katie VanDeValk (Baldwinsville, NY) added three goals. Cristaldi scored a pair as well, pushing her season total to 15 goals to tie the program mark of 144 career goals. Senior Jeannette Pendergast (Greenfield Center, NY) scored her first goal of the season, and sophomore Abby Doyle (Syracuse, NY) rounded out the goal scoring for the Knights.

Clarkson continued to impress on defense as well, with junior goalie Kara DiNatale (Auburn, NH) making three saves. Overall, the Knights allowed just 13 total shots, with only nine of those attempts going on the Clarkson cage, and eight groundballs.

SLU LAXWOMEN FALL

The St. Lawrence University womens lacrosse team saw its three-game win streak come to an end on Thursday evening, as nationally-ranked No. 3 Cortland State earned a 15-5 win at Hall-Leet Stadium in Canton, NY.

Cortland State was led by Erica Geremias nine-point effort (1g,8a), while Liz Ingalls picked up the win in net with 12 saves.

The Saints (3-2) played well throughout the game and owned the majority of possession in the first half. They were outshot 29-21 by the Red Dragons (4-1), but finished with a 17-16 lead in ground balls and a 13-9 edge in draw controls. St. Lawrence senior captain Brigid Hurley led her team with a pair of goals, while co-captain Holly Noyes contributed a goal, seven draw controls and four ground balls.

First-year student Hannah Calvelli had the lone assist for St. Lawrence, while Adden Cunningham made eight saves in the loss. Jessica Lavelle was outstanding on defense for the visitors, causing five turnovers and adding four ground balls, while Regina Rogers paced the Saints with four caused turnovers.

St. Lawrence will be in action again this afternoon when they host SUNY Potsdam at 4 p.m.

MORE SQUAD HONORS FOR KHALIFA

St. Lawrence University first-year student Amr Khaled Khalifa was named the Liberty Leagues Player and Rookie of the Year as the 2012-13 mens squash award winners were announced on Thursday afternoon. Khalifa was joined by six other Saints in being recognized by the league for their performances during the season. Sophomores Ibrahim Khan, Kyle Ogilvy and Sebastian Riedelsheimer garnered All-League awards, while junior Vir Seth and sophomores Duncan Maxwell and Chris Fernandez earned Honorable Mention status.

Khalifa went 15-0 in his first collegiate season and became the Saints squash programs first CSA individual national champion in March. En route to the mens title, Khalifa came back from a two-game deficit in the semifinals to upset the defending champion Ali Farag of Harvard, and then swept top-seeded Todd Harrity of Princeton in the final to win the crown.

Joining Khalifa as All-League selections were Khan, Ogilvy and Sebestian Riedelsheimer. Khan, who earned league honors for the second consecutive year, went 8-8 during the season and 7-4 at the two spot. The Rawalpindi, Pakistan native competed in the Molloy Division at the CSA Championships, where he advanced to the round of 16.

St. Lawrence finished 11-9 in its historic season that featured the programs first-ever individual national champion, appearance in the CSA Potter Cup, victory over Cornell and highest national ranking of #6. Additionally, the 2012-13 squad tied the programs record for shutouts, blanking eight opponents during the season, and the second longest win-streak after rattling off seven straight victories in the middle of the season.

CLARKSON BASEBALL POSTPONED

Thanks to the recent snow storm that deposited another layer of precipitation down on fields across the northeast, the Clarkson University Baseball teams Liberty League games against Vassar College this weekend have been postponed.

No make up date has been confirmed yet, so please check back to the Clarkson Baseball Schedule page for updates.

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